Ignition timer



Jan. 25, 1927.

' s. G... BARRY IGNITION TIMER Filed Jan. 17 25 Patented Jan. 25, 1927.

GERALD G. BARRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IGNITION TIMER.

Application filed January This invention relates to electric circuit makers and breakers, and particularly to that type known as timers, employed in the ignition systems of internal combustion engines. lVhile the invention in susceptible if use in many other connections, it has beendevised more particularly as an improve ment in the electric ignition system used on the well known Ford automobile and tractor, and will be described in that connection.

It is the purpose of my invention to provide a generally improved structure, which will simplify and reduce the cost of manu facturing, and at the same time furnish a device which may be subjected to long, hard usage and be more efiicient and dependable in operation than other devices for the purose.

p The invention consists in the details of construction and arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which similar letters or marks of reference designate like parts throughout the several figures:

Fig. 1 is a front plan view of the new device, with the cover removed.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section view of the stator element taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, this view leaving out the central rotating member, but showing a dotted section outline of the removable cover.

Fig. 3 is a sectional detail View through the main metal track and supporting member taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional detail through the contacting brush assembly.

Fig. 5 illustrates contemplated modifications which may be made in the structure.

It is not deemed necessary to illustrate any of the details of the associated engine parts. As is quite Well known, the Ford engine has four spark plugs and coil units and a magneto or batteries associated therewith, and the timer, which determines the instant at which the spark plugs fire the explosive mixture in the respective cylinders is mounted on the engine housing in front of the timing gear case, this disc portion of the housing forming the base of the timer structure, and

17, 1925. Serial No. 3,028.

the rotating element of the timer being secured. upon and operated by the cam shaft, which in turn is gear driven from the main engine shaft.

Referring to the drawings, a is the main metal circular supporting band adapted to be seated in the customary circular recess which is provided on the front of the timing gear case housing. Said circular recess on the engine housing is adapted to prevent eccentric displacement of the timer structure, and outward displacement is prevented by a spring clamp pressing on the cover and secured to a stud or bolt on the wall of the engine housing. My structure is mounted and secured against displacement in the usual way, and this portion of the housing wall serves as the base of the timer. The supporting band a is preferably formed as an integral flange from a fiat sheet metal blank a this blank having a series of four out out portions (1 leaving four centrally directed flat portions, and the latter each have their extended ends bent inwardly as an integral flange, marked a. The four flanges a preferably do not extend to the housing, but same are curved and arranged toform segmental parts or plates of the circular track for the traveling contacting member, as presently described.

Terminal contact plates 0 alternate with these four track flanged plates formed on the carrying member, the terminal contact plates being located at the cut out portions a These plates are also spaced from the housing, and it is necessary to insulate these terminals from the carrying member parts a, a and (L This may consist of a ring of hard fibre or other suitable insulating material extending all the way around and within the supporting band a the track plates at and terminal plates 0 being em bedded in the insulating ring. However, I prefer to save the cost of much insulating material. In Fig. 1, I show the terminal plates 0 carried on separate insulating blocks 5 A tubular insulating piece, marked 6 extends through the wall of band a, to insulate the screw threaded stud 0 of the terminal plate from said wall. This tubular piece or washer has a head 6 on the outside to insulate the securing nuts 0 and same preferably extends into the block b so ill as to leare no parting in line with the wall a to which current leakage might take place from the stud I may also form the insulation from one piece of fibre.

As already mentioned 0 marks the terminal contact plates in the track surface, and c the studs extending therefrom through th insulating elements. @2 1 the outside are shown two nuts for drawing the screw threaded stud and its terni'nal plate down to place and also to secure tie customary leading-in wire. The terminal plates 0 preferably hare an integral flange, marked 0*. The insulating" blocks 6 are shaped with a curve to conform to the wall a and under surface oi the plates 0 the sides are straight and one sine is tight against the flat under surface of what i sho n left of the sheet a at tne the opposite sine a1 against the thing, 0" niinal plate 0 Itwill b obser e. that in this way displacement tie insulating blocks and s prevented atter same a aced in position.

As illustri ig'. 2 there is thus mad l: surface comprised entir terminal plates 0 and tra M n s aaces be ing sho :n betwee With the roller type rotating circ r and breaker this car not be rse actorily, but

with the type of contacting brush which I show, and prefer, it- 'lhis brush longer than the int-rvening gap quite I hout drop ping into the air would. 1 thus s ve l also i iprore workingcare i'e space is aiiorded between cl and the outer wall a in which oil, rlue 1 seeps into the structinre e ire track plates is no fibre or r any rare become 01 the brush simply form into the open sp other insulation of the tra k u gummy under "he oils, etc, and un the rotor cause of tn Zn Fig. 1 simple, cheap and sively making ana ground connection with 0 It is to be nnderstoo the stationary element fore described is are traveling contactor roller or wi 1c eon roller type is use? provide suitable i1 than air space filling surface plates. fication illustrated a n}; SUCCES- insulating block is shown, with a projecting portion, marked forming a part of the smooth track surace on which the roller )1- brush may travel.

In my rotor illustrated in Fig. l and Fig. (Z denotes a tube or sleeve, which is mounted and detachaoly secured in the usual ray upon the end of the cam sha'tt (Z in integral circular plate (Z carries the outer details and serves to detleet any incoming oil, etc., which seeps in around the cam shaft, and aids in keeping same olii' the track surface. The plate (l' may have a. flange d, which I prefer to have entirely around the outer edge, and this flange. (Z has an inturned lip (Z Atthis point there a hole in the flange wall, and the cont; eting brush d is positioned here, projecting through the opening to come in contact with the surface of the track plates. The brush (Z is normally held in this position between the lip (Z and the back wall of plate by means of a that spring (Z 'lhe brt h has a straightslot (Z opener. in lie and extendlrom one si ing through the center oi the Jody, 'as best sho T11 in Fig. l. The spring Z is prefer ably made from flat stock, bent to the circular shape shown and the two ends riveted or otherwise secured to the flanged wall (1" as indicated at (Z lhis brush is reversible. The tension of the s )ring holds same in outward engage ment with the track surface. I preter to make the track plates ot' steel and the brush of soca led blendite metal an antidriction high speed bronze alloy. When the surface of the brush wears it may be forced back clear of the opening in the flange wall d throu h which it projects, and then to one side. along the hat spring, so a. to clear the extended lip (Z The brush may then be taken oil? the spring through the open sided slot (Z and be reversed and returned to operating posi tion.

In Fig. l the dotted outline (2 indicates l suitable cover, and marks an indentation centrally of the outer portion to receive one end of the usual spring clamp i'or holding the timer structure in place against the engine housing. This cover is preferably made removable from the stator, so that the main rotor and stator parts can be mounted and examined and then the core placed in. position.

A lug is hent and may be riveted as indicated at f to the top of the we l of ban;

taken up with insulating material 6, where such a track surface is'desired. An insulating ring may fill the space between the track plates and flanged wall (1 However, there is no need of wasting insulation under the plates a". To form the insulating members from separate fibre blocks not only saves the unnecessary part of the ring under plates a, but as a matter of fact saves considerably more, due to the fact that such fibre rings are formed from a flat sheet and the center is wasted by the necessary broaching operation. The forming operation on these separate insulating blocks will not occasion so much waste. A further improvement in opera- 1. tion and, reduction in costs may be accomplished by reducing the relative size of the terminal plates 0 or spaceon the circular track surface taken up thereby, in comparison with the surface space of the plates at. This reduces the size of the insulation blocks required even where provided with the pro jections b filling the gaps, and, of course, further reduces the insulating material under terminal plates 0 if an insulating block like the ones shown in Fig. 1 is employed.

A roller type contacting brush would be less satisfactory to use here for the further reason that, as the roller in traveling makes only a line contact it would provide a circuit connection only via the roller to the other parts of the rotor structure to the cam shaft, and the smaller terminal surface might not allow the moving line contact to be maintained long enough. I prefer to employ a spring pressed wipe contact brush, the track face of which is long enough to extend across the small terminal plate 0 from the track plate a on one side to the plate a on the other side, as shown by the dotted outline. Thus it will be observed that as the brush approaches to close the circuit, the circuit is not only established via the brush to the cam shaft but there is really a better connection from the first plate a via the brush as a bridge to the terminal 0 and as the brush travels on to the next adjacent plate a such electrical connection is maintained until the other end of the brush leaves the terminal 0 Those familiar with the manufacture and use of such timers will recognize the advantages of this invention and of its operation without any more detailed description. The low tension primary side of the four coils usually employed are connected by wires leading to their proper respective terminal plates 0 As the rotor is driven around by the cam shaft, the circuit is successively closed with the respectiveterminal plates 0 allowing current to flow to energize its connected coil and provide the high tension current which is led to the respective proper spark plugs, and the current flow through that coil ceases as the rotor breaks the circuit in passing off its terminal plate 0 Various changes in detail may be made in the structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the claims, and I do not desire any undue limitation therein. Having described the invention in its preferred embodiment what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is the following:

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a metal supporting plate having a circular band adapted to be mounted against a base, a supporting plate, a series of cut out portions in the supporting plate and integral with each of the series of plate surfaces left therebetween a flange curved and arranged to form segmental parts of a track surface on which a rotor travels, a series of metal terminal contact plates likewise suitably curved and arranged to form parts of said track surface alternating with the said track surfaces from the support member, separate insulating supporting blocks for each of said terminal contact plates, air gaps between the adjacent track surface plates, and rotating means for making and breaking electrical connection between the terminal contact plates and the engine structure, substantially as setforth.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of an annular band, a plate having cut out portions and a series of inwardly projecting flanges, a series of terminal contact plates, alternating with the flange plates and with same arranged to form the circular track surface on which a rotating distributor travels, and separate insulating material supporting pieces for each terminal contact plate.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting plate having an outer annular band adapted for mounting, and having cut out portions and a series of integral flanges, a series of metal terminal plates alternating with the said integral flanges on the supporting plate, the said plate flanges and terminal plates bein curved and arranged to form a circular trac for the traveling rotor member, and insulation for normally electrically separating the terminal plates from the balance of the structure.

4. In a device of the character described, a rotor member comprising a sleeve, an integral circular plate having a flange thereon and an opening in the said flange wall, an inturned lip on the said flange wall adjacent said opening, contacting brush, a straight open sided slot through the center of said brush, a flat spring in said slot, and means for securing said spring to the flange at the opposite edge of the circular plate, substantially as shown and described.

5. In a device of the character described, a supporting member formed from a metal plate, having a flange at its outer edge, in-

wardly directed and adapted for mounting against a suitable base, a series of portions cut out from the center of the plate and from each of the centrally directed portions of the plate le't't remaining an integral flange also directed to aid the base, a series of terminal contact plates, alternating with the flanges on the said supporting plate member, insulation in which the terminal contact plates are supported, and the entire series of alternating integral flanges and terminal con tact plates suitably curved and arranged to form a track surface on which a circuit make and break member travels.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a metal supporting plate having a circular mounting band, the said supporting plate having a series of cut out portions and integral with each of the series of plate surfaces le'ft therebetween, a flange curved and arranged to form segmental parts of a track surface on which a rotor travels, a series of metal terminal contact plates alternating with the said flanged track surfaces from the support member, insulation for said terminal contact plates, and rotating ieans for making and breaking electrical connection with the terminal contact plates substantially as set forth.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plate having an outer annular mounting band, portions eliminated from the center of the plate, a series of integral inwardly projecting flanges, a series of terminal contact plates, alternating with the said flange plates and the two series of plates arranged to form a circular track surface on which the rotating member travels, and insulating material for electrically separating the terminal contact plates from each other and the balance of the structure.

8. In a device of the character described, the combination of a supporting plate menr ber, having cut out portions and a series of inwardly projecting flanges, a series of terminal contact plates, alternating with the flange plates and with same arranged to form a circular track on which a rotating distributor is adapted to travel, and insulating material in which the terminal contact plates are supported.

In testimony whereof, I llZU'Q hereunto signed my name to this specification.

GERALD G. BARRY. 

